SideLion Report
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Detroit Lions must show patience in 2018 free agent market

By James F. Puzzuoli

ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27: DeMarco Murray runs for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on October 27, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27: DeMarco Murray runs for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on October 27, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

RUNNING BACK

Only one offensive position lacks a true number one on the roster: Running back. Unfortunately, there are no running backs worth pursuing with big free agent dollars. Those guys just aren’t available in most years because teams won’t let them leave.

With visits by running backs DeMarco Murray of the Tennessee Titans and Jonathan Stewart of the Carolina Panthers, the Lions are probably looking at deals of one or two years max. Does either of them have one great year left in the tank? Hard to say. Even if they do, it won’t fix this position for the long haul.

Fortunately, running backs can be found in the draft. And they don’t have to be drafted high. The Detroit Lions need a guy to fill the role for next five to seven years. This guy must be found in the draft (preferably), and it needs to get done this year.

OFFENSIVE LINE

In 2017, the Lions signed offensive guard T.J. Lang and offensive tackle Rick Wagner. And they paid up for both of them. Unfortunately, the offensive line was terrible this past season, and it made this pair of signings questionable at best.

The injury to offensive tackle Taylor Decker had a lot to do with last year’s struggles. The first eight games, the Detroit Lions could not find an answer for this gaping hole on the left side. This affected the entire line. If Detroit avoids injury (at least for long stretches), the o-line looks much better in 2018.

The offensive line needs to be populated by the players already on the roster and from upcoming drafts. Yes, drafts. Plural. You can’t have enough good offensive linemen, but you must develop them yourself.

The big o-line signings in 2017 are an aberration, as Detroit lost two starters (guard Larry Warford and tackle Riley Reiff). Losing center Travis Swanson in 2018 is not the same thing. Left guard Graham Glasgow looks poised to take that position, and he looks more capable. Not to mention, more durable.

So, there is a hole at left guard. This is where Bob Quinn needs his drafts and various acquisitions to step up to the plate. Guard Joe Dahl is a possibility. From various reports over his first two seasons, Dahl sounds like a guy that works really hard and has plenty of versatility. Both things certainly are in his favor.

Tackle Brian Mihalik, who played decent last year in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, could also be interesting. Maybe Mihalik could step in at guard? He is a guy with nice size and looks athletic on the field in terms of his movement. Even if Mihalik doesn’t make it at guard, he could provide much needed depth at tackle.

THE DEFENSE

Compared to the offense, the defense has many more holes to fill. At all three levels of the defense, there are question marks. But only one position to even consider a big name free agent …

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